Martha Atienza, Our Islands, 11°16'58.4 N 123°45'07.0 E, 2017 – ongoing. Image courtesy of the artist and Silverlens (Manila/New York).
Nov 1, 2026 - Apr 4, 2027
Muara Arts opens with A–Z of Southeast Asian Art: A Critical Dictionary, an ambitious exhibition exploring the perspectives, tensions and connections that shape Southeast Asia today.
Inspired by renowned Singaporean artist Ho Tzu Nyen’s generative work The Critical Dictionary of Southeast Asia (2017–ongoing), the exhibition presents painting, sculpture, textile, installation, video and works on paper by more than forty artists. Each work engages with a term that reflects the region’s culture, ecology, geography, history or politics.
Rather than offering a definitive account, the exhibition embraces the dictionary as a space for multiple perspectives. From ‘A for Animism’ and ‘A for Archipelago’ to ‘B for Buffalo’, ‘C for Corruption’ and ultimately ‘Z for Zoomorphism’, the exhibition moves across the alphabet to reveal the many ways Southeast Asia can be understood, questioned and imagined.
Conceived as a point of confluence, Muara Arts brings Malaysian and Southeast Asian artists together in dialogue, creating a space for exchange, discovery and new connections. The exhibition brings together artists from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.
Featuring: Pacita Abad, Pio Abad and Frances Wadsworth Jones, Isabel & Alfredo Aquilizan, Izat Arif, Martha Atienza, Christine Ay Tjoe, Nadiah Bamadhaj, Sharon Chin and Mayyu Ali, Tiffany Chung, Nicole Coson, Fyerool Darma, Cian Dayrit, Nirmala Dutt, Simryn Gill, Pao Houa Her, Ho Tzu Nyen, Yasmin Jaidin, Banny Jayanata, Samnang Khvay, Marcos Kueh, Zai Kuning, Maria Madeira, Maryanto, Zarina Muhammad, Tuấn Andrew Nguyễn, Mary Pakinee, Pangrok Sulap, Paul Pfeiffer, Thảo Nguyên Phan, Navin Rawanchaikul, Norberto Roldan, Anne Samat, Citra Sasmita, Moe Satt, Agus Suwage, Tan Zi Hao, Jennifer Tee, Tanat Teeradakorn, Kanitha Tith, Arlette Quỳnh-Anh Trần, Carlos Villa, Savanhdary Vongpoothorn, Wong Hoy Cheong, Sawangwongse Yawnghwe, and Yee I-Lann.
Muara Arts opens to the public on 1st November 2026.
Tickets are now live.